Apparatus and method for screen display control in electronic device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method are provided for controlling the display of a screen in an electronic device that supports multitasking. In the method, the apparatus displays first and second application execution screens on first and second areas of a screen, respectively. The first and second areas are distinct from each other. When an event for executing a third application is detected, the apparatus displays the second application execution screen on the first area and also displays a third application execution screen on the second area in response to the detected event. When execution of the third application is terminated, the apparatus displays the first application execution screen on the first area and also displays the second application execution screen on the second area.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to a KoreanPatent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office onNov. 18, 2014 and assigned Serial No. 10-2014-0161107, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1) Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method forcontrolling a display of a screen in an environment that supportsmultitasking.

2) Description of the Related Art

Due to the growth of various technologies, a variety of electronicdevices have become increasingly popular these days while theirfunctionality has expanded for the user. For example, a smart phone nowperforms various functions, such as gaming, multimedia, camera, Internetaccess, scheduling, messaging, navigation, and the like, as well asvoice call functionality. Normally, a smart phone may have a touchscreen. Using this touch screen, a smart phone detects a user input andvisually displays a screen in response to the user input.

In order to meet users' diversified demands, a multitasking function forsimultaneously operating a plurality of applications is frequently used.An electronic device that supports a multitasking function may displayrunning applications on a single screen. When two or more applicationsare executed in a multitasking environment, an electronic device maydisplay respective application execution screens on a split screen. Forexample, one application execution screen may be displayed on an upperpart of the split screen, and the other may be displayed on a lower partof the split screen.

When a user who has a large-sized electronic device holds the electronicdevice with one hand, the user may often have difficulty in manipulatingan application displayed on the upper part of the split screen by usinghis or her thumb only. Certain applications displayed out of reach fromthe thumb may be not easy to manipulate. Further, when any event forexecuting a new application occurs, the use of running applications maybe limited.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure provides an apparatusand method for controlling a screen display so that an applicationexecution screen displayed on a relatively distant first area can bedisplayed on a relatively near second area when it is required tomanipulate the application execution screen on the first area.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus andmethod for controlling a screen display so that an item for controllingan application execution screen displayed on the first area can bedisplayed on the second area which allows one-handed manipulation of theuser interface.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus forcontrolling a screen display in an electronic device includes a displaypanel configured to display respective application execution screens onfirst and second areas of a screen wherein the first and second areasare distinct from each other; and a control unit configured to controlthe display panel to display a second application execution screen onthe first area and to display a third application execution screen onthe second area when an event for executing a third application isdetected while a first application execution screen is displayed on thefirst area and the second application execution screen is displayed onthe second area, and configured to control the display panel to displaythe first application execution screen on the first area and to displaythe second application execution screen on the second area whenexecution of the third application is terminated.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method forcontrolling a screen display in an electronic device includes operationsof displaying first and second application execution screens on firstand second areas of a screen, respectively, wherein the first and secondareas are distinct from each other; detecting an event for executing athird application; displaying the second application execution screen onthe first area and also displaying a third application execution screenon the second area in response to the detected event; and displaying thefirst application execution screen on the first area and also displayingthe second application execution screen on the second area whenexecution of the third application is terminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a split screen of an electronic deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating major elements of an electronicdevice according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a display ofapplication execution screens according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 shows display screenshots illustrating a process of controlling adisplay of application execution screens according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a display ofapplication execution screens according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIGS. 6 to 9 show display screenshots illustrating a process ofcontrolling a display of application execution screens according toembodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a displayof application execution screens according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, various embodiments will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings. This disclosure may be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein. Rather, the disclosed embodiments are provided so thatthis disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey thescope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The principles andfeatures of this invention may be employed in varied and numerousembodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, well known or widely used techniques, elements, structures,and processes may not be described or illustrated in detail to avoidobscuring the essence of the present disclosure. Although the drawingsrepresent particular embodiments, the drawings are not necessarily toscale and certain features may be exaggerated or omitted in order tobetter illustrate and explain the present disclosure. Throughout thedrawings, the same or similar reference numerals denote correspondingfeatures consistently.

Unless defined differently, all terms used herein, which includetechnical terminologies or scientific terminologies, have the samemeaning as that understood by a person skilled in the art to which thepresent invention belongs. Singular forms are intended to include pluralforms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The terms such as “comprise”, “include”, and/or “have” may be construedto denote a certain characteristic, number, step, operation, constituentelement, component or a combination thereof, but are not to be construedto exclude the existence of or a possibility of addition of one or moreother characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements,components or combinations thereof. The expression “or” includes any andall combinations of the associated listed words. For example, theexpression “A or B” may include A, may include B, or may include both Aand B.

In various embodiments disclosed herein, expressions including ordinalnumbers, such as “first” and “second,” etc., may modify variouselements. However, such elements are not limited by the aboveexpressions. For example, the above expressions do not limit thesequence and/or importance of the elements. The above expressions areused merely for the purpose to distinguish an element from the otherelements. For example, a first user device and a second user deviceindicate different user devices although both of them, the first userdevice and the second user device, are user devices. For example, afirst element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, asecond element may be also referred to as a first element withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a split screen of an electronic deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic device 100 that supports amultitasking environment may logically divide the entire area of a touchscreen 130 into two or more areas. For example, the electronic device100 may divide the area of the touch screen 130 lengthwise or widthwise,and the dividing of the screen may be adjusted when the orientation ofthe electronic device 100 is rotated 90°.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device 100may display the first application execution screen on the first area 130a located at an upper part of the logically divided screen 130, and alsodisplay the second application execution screen on the second area 130 blocated at a lower part of the logically divided screen 130. Of course,the reverse is also possible.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device100 may display the first application execution screen on the first arealocated at a left part of the logically divided screen 130, and alsodisplay the second application execution screen on the second arealocated at a right part of the logically divided screen 130. Of course,in this case as well, the reverse is also possible.

Hereinafter, it will be defined that ‘the first area’ refers to a regionlocated at the upper part of the logically divided screen and also ‘thesecond area’ refers to a region located at the lower part of thelogically divided screen. The first and second areas are distinct fromeach other, and the dimensions thereof are not fixed. This definition isan example only and not to be considered as a limitation of the presentdisclosure. For example, although the second area 130 b is shown asbeing greater than the first area 130 a, this is merely an example.Alternatively, the second area 130 b may be smaller than or of the samesize as the first area 130 a.

An application displayed on the first area 130 a may be one of aspecific application selected by a user, a predefined defaultapplication (e.g., defined at manufacture), a recently executedapplication, or a frequently executed application, and may be displayedin the form of a widget, a shortcut, an icon, or the like. If multipleapplications are displayed on the first area 130 a, each individualapplication execution screen may be displayed one by one in response toa user input (e.g., a drag) in a widthwise or lengthwise direction. Thesame may be applied to the second area 130 b.

The first and second areas 130 a and 130 b may be formed by differenttouch screens which are physically distinct from each other. Namely, twotouch screens may be logically unified and respectively form the firstand second areas 130 a and 130 b. Although embodiments disclosed hereinemploy a split screen in which a physically single touch screen islogically divided into two screen areas, this is merely a particularembodiment and is not to be considered a limitation.

The electronic device 100 may activate or deactivate a screen splitfunction for displaying respective application execution screens onlogically divided areas of the screen in a multitasking environment. Inresponse to a user's request, the electronic device 100 may turn on oroff the screen split function.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, if the screen split functionis activated, the electronic device 100 may display the firstapplication execution screen on the first area and also display thesecond application execution screen on the second area. Subsequently, ifan event for executing the third application occurs, the electronicdevice 100 may display the second application execution screen on thefirst area and also display the third application execution screen onthe second area. In this case, the attribute of the third applicationmay be set to display an application execution screen on the secondarea. This attribute of the third application may be set by a user.Additionally or alternatively, such an attribute may be set by adeveloper during the development of an application or by a manufacturerduring the manufacture of the electronic device.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the attribute of the thirdapplication may be set differently according to application types by,e.g., a user. For example, the attribute of a call application may beset to display a call application execution screen on the second area.Also, the attribute of a music application may be set to display atleast one item for controlling the music application on the second area.In such cases, if an event for executing the third application occurs,the electronic device may determine whether to display the thirdapplication execution screen on the second area or to display thecontrol item for the third application on the second area, depending onapplication types, i.e., based on the attribute of the thirdapplication.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the attribute of thethird application may be set equally regardless of application types by,e.g., a user. For example, all attributes of a call application and amusic application may be set to display a corresponding applicationexecution screen on the second area or to display at least one item forcontrolling a corresponding application on the second area.

The electronic device 100 may display application execution screens onthe first and second areas 130 a and 130 b at the same layer.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, if the screen splitfunction is activated, the electronic device 100 may display the firstapplication execution screen on the first area and also display thesecond application execution screen on the second area. Then, if anevent for executing the third application occurs, the electronic device100 may display the third application execution screen on the first areawhile maintaining a display of the second application execution screenon the second area. Further, the electronic device 100 may display atleast one item for controlling the third application on the second area.In this case, the attribute of the third application may be set todisplay a control item on the second area. The at least one item forcontrolling the third application may be displayed, for example, in theform of a button at an upper layer on a currently displayed applicationexecution screen.

In case different application execution screens are displayedrespectively on the first and second areas 130 a and 130 b of the touchscreen 130, the electronic device 100 may control each individualapplication to be executed independently. In response to a user input oneach of the first and second areas 130 a and 130 b, the electronicdevice 100 may display a corresponding application execution screen on acorresponding area. In some cases, applications executed on the firstand second areas 130 a and 130 b may be controlled in conjunction witheach other.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a message application may beexecuted on the first area 130 a, and a gallery application may beexecuted on the second area 130 b. In this case, the electronic device100 may support a function to attach a photo arranged in a galleryapplication execution screen to a message displayed in a messageapplication execution screen.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, while differentapplication execution screens are displayed on the first and secondareas 130 a and 130 b, the electronic device 100 may receive a userinput for maximizing an application execution screen displayed on thefirst or second screen 130 a or 130 b. For example, the first area 130 amay contain a maximization button 102 displayed thereon, and a user mayselect this button 102 to maximize the application execution screendisplayed on the first screen 130 a. In response to this input, theelectronic device 100 may display this application execution screen on afull screen 101.

If the screen split function is deactivated, the electronic device 100may display a selected application execution screen on the full screen101 of the touch screen 130.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating major elements of an electronicdevice according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic device 100 may include a wirelesscommunication unit 110, a memory unit 120, a touch screen 130, and acontrol unit 140.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more modules forperforming wireless communication between the electronic device 100 anda wireless communication system or network having other electronicdevices. For example, the wireless communication unit 110 may include amobile communication module, a wireless local area network (WLAN)module, various types of short range communication modules, a locationcomputation module, a broadcast receiving module, and the like.

The wireless communication unit 110 may receive an incoming call ormessage while respective applications are executed on the first andsecond areas. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the receptionof a call or message may be considered an event for executing the thirdapplication.

The memory unit 120 may store programs and applications required for theelectronic device 100 or selected by a user. Further, the memory unit120 may store various types of data created during the operation of theelectronic device 100 or received from any external entity through thewireless communication unit 110.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the memory unit 120 maystore setting information about whether to use a screen split function,information about applications to be disposed on the first area,attribute information about applications, and the like. Specifically,the setting information about whether to use a screen split function maybe certain information which is set by a user to respectively displaytwo or more application execution screens on logically divided screenareas in a multitasking environment. The information about applicationsto be disposed on the first area may be certain information about anapplication to be displayed on the first application execution screenwhen the screen split function is activated. This information may be setby a user. For example, the information about applications to bedisposed on the first area may be in the form of a widget, anapplication, a gadget, and the like, and may be set by a user. Theattribute information about applications may be set during developmentof the application, during manufacture of the electronic device, as oneof user defined settings, or the like. This application attributeinformation may be information indicating a display location of anapplication execution screen. If the application attribute informationis set to display an application execution screen on another area, theelectronic device 100 may display a relatively distant applicationexecution screen on a relatively near area (e.g., the second area). Ifthe application attribute information is set to display an item forcontrolling the third application execution screen, the electronicdevice 100 may display, on a relatively near area (e.g., the secondarea), an item for controlling an application execution screen displayedon a relatively distant area (e.g., the first area). The term“relatively distant execution screen” means an application executionscreen, i.e., one of screens 130 a and 130 b, that is not close to theuser's fingers for manipulation while the user holds the electronicdevice 100, while the term “relatively near area” refers to anapplication execution screen that is close to the user's fingers formanipulation while the user holds the device.

The touch screen 130 may include a touch panel 131 and a display panel132. The touch panel 131 may detect a touch input or a hover input onthe surface of the touch screen 130. The touch panel 131 may createdetection information in response to a user input and then deliver thecreated detection information to the control unit 140.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the touch panel 131 maydetect a touch input on each of the logically divided first and secondareas.

The display panel 132 may be formed of a liquid crystal display (LCD),an active matrix organic light emitted diode (AMOLED), a flexibledisplay, a transparent display, or the like.

The display panel 132 may display application execution screens on thelogically divided first and second areas, respectively, under thecontrol of the control unit 140.

Additionally, the display panel 132 may display, on the second area, atleast one item for controlling an application displayed on the firstarea under the control of the control unit 140.

The control unit 140 may control the entire operation of the electronicdevice 100. The control unit 140 may recognize the activation of ascreen split function. When the screen split function is activated, thecontrol unit 140 controls the display panel 132 to display the firstapplication execution screen on the first area and also display thesecond application execution screen on the second area. In addition, thecontrol unit 140 detects the occurrence of an event for executing thethird application. This event may occur in order to execute a newapplication while respective application execution screens are displayedon the divided screen areas. For example, the third applicationexecution event may be a call reception, a message reception, anotification reception, a music playback, a camera activation, and thelike. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, in response to thethird application execution event, the control unit 140 may control thedisplay panel 132 to display the second application execution screen onthe first area and also display the third application execution screenon the second area.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, when the thirdapplication execution event is received, the control unit 140 maycontrol the display panel 132 to display at least one item forcontrolling the third application execution screen on the secondapplication execution screen. This control item may be a button forcontrolling the third application displayed on the first area.

If the execution of the third application is terminated while the thirdapplication execution screen and/or the control item of the thirdapplication are displayed in response to the third application executionevent, the control unit 140 may control the display panel 132 to displaya state before the third application execution event is detected. Thecontrol unit 140 may control the display panel 132 to display the firstapplication execution screen on the first area and also display thesecond application execution screen on the second area.

In another embodiment of the present invention, when the execution ofthe third application is terminated, the control unit 140 may controlthe display panel 132 to remove the at least one item for controllingthe third application from the second area. At this time, the controlunit 140 may further control the display panel 132 to remove the thirdapplication execution screen from the first area and instead display thefirst application execution screen on the first area.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a display ofapplication execution screens according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 4 shows screenshots illustrating a process ofcontrolling a display of application execution screens according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

In step 301, the control unit 140 recognizes that a screen splitfunction is activated. The screen split function may be set by a user todisplay respective application execution screens on logically dividedareas of the screen in a multitasking environment.

In step 303, as shown in screenshot 410 of FIG. 4, the control unit 140controls the display panel 132 to display the first applicationexecution screen on the first area 401 of the touch screen 130 and alsodisplay the second application execution screen on the second area 402.The first application execution screen may be executed by a user. Anapplication executed in the first application execution screen mayalways maintain an executed state, and this function may be set by auser. In the first application execution screen, one of a specificapplication selected by a user, a predefined default application, arecently executed application, and a frequently executed application maybe displayed in the form of a widget, a shortcut, an icon, and the like.A display form may be not limited to these examples.

When a notification application is executed in the first applicationexecution screen as shown in screenshot 410 of FIG. 4, the control unit140 controls the display panel 132 to display a notification applicationexecution screen in the form of widget. The first application executionscreen may be displayed at the same layer as the second applicationexecution screen is displayed.

In step 305, the control unit 140 determines whether an event forexecuting a third application occurs. This third application executionevent may occur in order to execute a new application while respectiveapplication execution screens are displayed on the first and secondareas 401 and 402. For example, the third application execution eventmay be a call reception, a message reception, a notification reception,a music playback, a camera activation, and the like.

If the third application execution event does not occur, the controlunit 140 controls the display panel 132 to maintain a current screendisplay. The first and second application execution screens may still bedisplayed on the first and second areas, 401 and 402, respectively.

If the third application execution event occurs, in step 307 the controlunit 140 controls the display panel 132 to display a screen based on theattribute of an application corresponding to the third applicationexecution event.

Specifically, the control unit 140 may control the display panel 132 todisplay the third application execution screen executed in response tothe third application execution event on the first area 401 and alsodisplay the second application execution screen on the second area 402.Subsequently, based on the attribute of the third application, thecontrol unit 140 may control the display panel 132 to display the thirdapplication execution screen on the second area 402 and also display thesecond application execution screen on the first area 401, as shown inscreenshot 420 of FIG. 4. At this time, the first application executionscreen and the third application execution screen may be seen as ifhaving exchanged locations. The attribute of an application executed inresponse to the third application execution event may be informationabout a display location of an application execution screen. Thisattribute may be set during development of the application, duringmanufacture of the electronic device, as one of user defined settings,and the like.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control unit 140controls the display panel 132 to display a message applicationexecution screen as the second application execution screen on the firstarea 401 according to the attribute of the third application executed inresponse to the third application execution event. Also, the controlunit 140 may control the display panel 132 to display a call applicationexecution screen as the third application execution screen on the secondarea 402. For example, the attribute of a call application as the thirdapplication may be set to move an application execution screen.

In step 309, the control unit 140 determines whether the execution ofthe third application is terminated. For example, the end of a call, thecompleted reception of a message, the termination of a music playback,the deactivation of a camera, and the like may be considered as thetermination of the third application. As shown in screenshot 430 of FIG.4, the control unit 140 recognizes the termination of the thirdapplication when an incoming call is ended.

The control unit 140 may perform step 307 until the execution of thethird application is terminated. Namely, if the execution of the thirdapplication is not terminated, the control unit 140 may control thedisplay panel 132 to display the third application execution screen onthe second area 402 and also display the second application executionscreen on the first area 401.

When the execution of the third application is terminated, the controlunit 140 controls the display panel 132 to display the first applicationexecution screen on the first area 401 and also display the secondapplication execution screen on the second area 402 in step 311, asshown in screenshot 440 of FIG. 4.

In an embodiment of the present application, when a call application(i.e., the third application) is terminated as shown in screenshot 440of FIG. 4, the control unit 140 may control the display panel 132 todisplay a notification widget execution screen on the first area 401 andalso display a message application execution screen on the second area402. The notification widget execution screen displayed on the firstarea 401 may correspond to the first application executed before theexecution of the third application, as in screenshot 410 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a display ofapplication execution screens according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure. FIGS. 6 to 9 shows screenshots illustrating aprocess of controlling a display of application execution screensaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in step 501, the control unit 140 recognizesthat a screen split function is activated. The screen split function maybe set by a user to display respective application execution screens onlogically divided areas of the screen in a multitasking environment.

When the screen split function is activated, in step 503 the controlunit 140 controls the display panel 132 to display the first applicationexecution screen on the first area 601 and also display the secondapplication execution screen on the second area 602 as shown inscreenshot 610 of FIG. 6. In the first application execution screen, oneof a specific application selected by a user, a predefined defaultapplication, a recently executed application, and a frequently executedapplication may be displayed in the form of a widget, a shortcut, anicon, and the like.

As shown in screenshot 610 of FIG. 6, the control unit 140 controls thedisplay panel 132 to display a notification application execution screenas the first application execution screen in the form of widget on thefirst area 601. The control unit 140 controls the display panel 132 todisplay a message application execution screen as the second applicationexecution screen on the second area 602.

In step 505, the control unit 140 determines whether an event forexecuting the third application occurs. This third application executionevent may occur in order to execute a new application while respectiveapplication execution screens are displayed on the first and secondareas 601 and 602. For example, the third application execution eventmay be a call reception, a message reception, a notification reception,a music playback, a camera activation, and the like.

If the third application execution event occurs, in step 507 the controlunit 140 controls the display panel 132 to display a screen based on theattribute of an application corresponding to the third applicationexecution event.

Specifically, the control unit 140 controls the display panel 132 todisplay the third application execution screen executed in response tothe third application execution event on the first area 601. Then, basedon the attribute of the third application, the control unit 140 controlsthe display panel 132 to display at least one item for controlling thethird application execution screen overlapping onto the second area 602.At this time, the attribute of the third application may be set by auser to display at least one item for controlling the third applicationexecution screen on the second area 602. This item may control the thirdapplication executed in response to the third application executionevent and may be displayed as, e.g., a button, an icon, and the like.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, if the control unit 140 isset to display an item 603 for controlling the third applicationexecution screen overlapping onto the second area 602, the control unit140 controls the display panel 132 to display this control item 603 onthe second area 602 as shown in screenshot 620 of FIG. 6. For example,the item 603 for controlling the third application execution screen maybe a call accept button 603 a and a call reject button 603 b. Throughthese control items 603, the control unit 140 may control an applicationexecuted in response to the third application execution event. Forexample, when the call accept button 603 a is selected, a call isconnected. A user may determine a display location of the control item603 and whether to use the control item 603. The control item 603 may bedisplayed at an upper layer in relation to the first and secondapplication execution screens. The control item 603 may also bedisplayed in the form of a floating button.

In step 509, the control unit 140 determines whether the execution ofthe third application is terminated. If an end call button 603 c isselected as shown in screenshot 630 of FIG. 6, the control unit 140determines that the execution of the third application is terminated.For example, the end of a call may be recognized as the termination ofthe third application.

The control unit 140 controls the display panel 132 to display the item603 for controlling the third application execution screen on the secondapplication execution screen until the execution of the thirdapplication is terminated.

Meanwhile, when the execution of the third application is terminated,the control unit 140 controls the display panel 132 to remove thecontrol item 603 from the screen in step 511 as shown in screenshot 640.Further, the control unit 140 may control the display panel 132 todisplay the first application execution screen on the first area 601 andalso display the second application execution screen on the second area602, as in screenshot 610 of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7 to 9 are based on the assumption that the third application hasan attribute set to display an item for controlling the thirdapplication execution screen.

Referring to FIG. 7, as shown in screenshot 710, the control unit 140controls the display panel 132 to display the first applicationexecution screen 701 and the second application execution screen 702 ona split screen of the touch screen 130. For example, the firstapplication execution screen 701 may be displayed on an upper part ofthe touch screen 130, and the second application execution screen 702may be displayed on a lower part of the touch screen 130. When a screensplit function is activated, the control unit 140 may execute respectiveapplications and also control the display panel 132 to display thecorresponding application execution screens 701 and 702. For example, asshown, a bank application and a message application may be executed inthe first and second application execution screens 701 and 702,respectively, in screenshot 710. Alternatively, any other applicationsuch as a game application, a gallery application, and the like may beexecuted. Different applications executed in the first and secondapplication execution screens 701 and 702 may be executed and controlledseparately and independently.

While the first and second application execution screens 701 and 702 aredisplayed separately, the control unit 140 may receive an event forexecuting the third application. This event may occur in order toexecute a new application while respective application execution screensare displayed on the divided screen areas. For example, the thirdapplication execution event may be a call reception, a messagereception, a notification reception, a music playback, a cameraactivation, and the like. In response to the third application executionevent, the control unit 140 may control the display panel 132 to displaythe third application execution screen corresponding to the thirdapplication execution event. At this time, the control unit 140 maychange one of currently displayed application execution screens to thethird application execution screen. For example, the control unit 140may control the display panel 132 to display the third applicationexecution screen instead of the first application execution screen.

The control unit 140 may determine whether the attribute of the thirdapplication is set to display the first and second application executionscreens to other areas or to display at least one item for controllingthe third application execution screen.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the third application may bean alarm application as shown in screenshot 720 of FIG. 7. If the alarmapplication has an attribute to display an item 703 for controlling analarm application execution screen on the second area, the control unit140 controls the display panel 132 to display the control item 703 onthe second area 702 as shown in screenshot 720. The control item 703 maybe formed of a first button 703 a and a second button 703 b and may bedisplayed at an upper layer in relation to the displayed applicationexecution screens, as shown in screenshot 730 of FIG. 7.

The control unit 140 determines whether the execution of the alarmapplication (i.e., the third application) is terminated. For example,when the control item 703 is selected, the control unit 140 mayrecognize that the execution of the alarm application is terminated.Subsequently, the control unit 140 controls the display panel 132 toremove the control item 703 from the screen. Further, as shown inscreenshot 740, the control unit 140 may control the display panel 132to remove the alarm application execution screen (i.e., the thirdapplication execution screen) from the first area 701 and return to thedisplay of the bank application execution screen (i.e., the firstapplication execution screen) on the first area 701, as in screenshot710 of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 8, the control unit 140 may divide the touch screen130 logically and then control the display panel 132 to display thefirst application execution screen on the first area 801 and alsodisplay the second application execution screen on the second area 802.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in screenshot 810,the control unit 140 controls the display panel 132 to display anotification application execution screen as the first applicationexecution screen on the first area 801 and also displays a messageapplication execution screen as the second application execution screenon the second area 802.

The control unit 140 may receive an event for executing the thirdapplication. For example, the third application may be a cameraapplication. The control unit 140 may identify the attribute of thethird application. Then, based on the identified attribute, the controlunit 140 determines a display location of the third applicationexecution screen and whether to display an item for controlling thethird application execution screen.

As shown in screenshot 820, the control unit 140 controls the displaypanel 132 to display at least one item 803 for controlling the thirdapplication execution screen on the second area 802. For example, thiscontrol item 803 may include a reverse button 803 a, a shutter button803 b, and a flash button 803 c. In addition, the control unit 140 maycontrol the display panel 132 to display the existing messageapplication execution screen on the second area 802 and also display acamera application execution screen corresponding to the thirdapplication execution event on the first area 801. For example, thecamera application execution screen as the third application executionscreen may be a preview image screen.

As shown in screenshot 830, the control unit 140 detects the terminationof the execution of the third application. For example, when the shutterbutton 803 b is the control item selected, the control unit 140recognizes that the execution of the third application is terminated.

In response to a selection of the shutter button 803 b, the control unit140 stores a captured image in the memory unit 120 and also controls thedisplay panel 132 to display the notification application executionscreen which was displayed before the execution of the thirdapplication, on the first area 801.

As shown in screenshot 840, the control unit 140 controls the displaypanel 132 to remove the control item 803 from the second area 802 andalso display the notification application execution screen on the firstarea 801, as in screenshot 801 of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the screen split function is activated, thecontrol unit 140 controls the display panel 132 to display the firstapplication execution screen on the first area 901 and also display thesecond application execution screen on the second area 902, as shown inscreenshot 910.

As shown in screenshot 910, the control unit 140 controls the displaypanel 132 to display a notification application execution screen on thefirst area 801 and also display a message application execution screenon the second area 802.

The control unit 140 may detect an event for executing the thirdapplication while respective applications are executed in the first andsecond areas 901 and 902. For example, the third application may be amusic application, and the third application execution event may be apress of a button equipped in an earphone of the electronic device 100.In response to this event, the third application execution screen isdisplayed on the first area 901, as shown in screenshot 920.

The control unit 140 may identify the attribute of the thirdapplication. Then, based on the identified attribute, the control unit140 may determine a display location of the third application executionscreen and whether to display an item 903 for controlling the thirdapplication execution screen.

As shown in screenshot 920, the control unit 140 controls the displaypanel 132 to display at least one item 903 for controlling the thirdapplication execution screen on the second area 902. For example, thiscontrol item 903 may include the first option button 903 a, the secondoption button 903 b, and the third option button 903 c, which for amusic application, may include a reverse button, a playback/pausebutton, and a forward button, respectively.

In addition, the control unit 140 controls the display panel 132 todisplay the existing message application execution screen on the secondarea 902 and also display the music application execution screencorresponding to the third application execution event on the first area901.

Additionally, as shown in screenshot 930, the control unit 140determines whether the execution of the third application is terminated.For example, when the third option button 903 c is the control itemselected, the control unit 140 recognizes that the execution of thethird application is terminated.

In response to a selection of the third option button 903 c, the controlunit 140 may start to play the next music selection and also control thedisplay panel 132 to display the first application execution screenwhich was displayed before the execution of the third application, onthe first area 901.

Further, as shown in screenshot 940, the control unit 140 controls thedisplay panel 132 to remove the control item 903 displayed in anoverlapping form on the second area 902 and also displays thenotification application execution screen on the first area 901, as inscreenshot 910.

According to the embodiments discussed above, the electronic device 100may change application execution screens displayed on divided screenareas and/or display a control item for an application displayed on theupper screen area on the lower screen area, depending on the attributeof the third application executed in response to a corresponding event.This is merely an example, and is not to be considered as a limitation.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a displayof application execution screens according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10, in step 1001, the control unit 140 recognizes thatthe screen split function is activated. The screen split function may beset by a user to display respective application execution screens onlogically divided areas of the screen in a multitasking environment.

In step 1003, the control unit 140 controls the display panel 132 todisplay the first application execution screen on the first area andalso display the second application execution screen on the second area.

In step 1005, the control unit 140 determines whether an event occursfor executing the third application to be newly displayed on the firstarea. For example, this event may be the arrival of an incoming call.

If the event for executing the third application occurs in step 1005,the control unit 140 determines the attribute of the third applicationexecuted in response to the event, in step 1007. The attribute of thethird application may be set by a user so as to determine whether tomove an application execution screen or to display a control item for anapplication, or both. Additionally or alternatively, the attribute ofthe third application may be set during development of the application,during manufacture of the electronic device, and the like.

In step 1009, the control unit 140 determines whether the attribute ofthe third application is set to display the third application executionscreen on any other area (e.g., the second area).

If the attribute of the third application is set to display the thirdapplication execution screen on any other area in step 1009, the controlunit 140 performs, in step 1011, the steps 307 to 311 discussed aboveand as shown in FIG. 3. The control unit 140 may control the displaypanel 132 to display the third application execution screen, prearrangedto be displayed on the first area, on the second area. Herein, therepetition of the same as described with reference to FIG. 3 will beavoided.

If the attribute of the third application is set to display at least onecontrol item for the third application execution screen in step 1009,rather than displaying the third application execution screen itself,the control unit 140 performs, in step 1013, the steps 507 to 511discussed above and as shown in FIG. 5. The control unit 140 may controlthe display panel 132 to display the at least one control item for thethird application execution screen displayed on the first area, on thesecond area. Herein, the repetition of the same as described withreference to FIG. 5 will be avoided.

When different application execution screens are displayed on a splitscreen in a multitasking environment, an execution screen of a newlyexecuted application may replace one of currently displayed screens andfurther move toward a user manipulable location. The split screen mayhave logically or physically divided screen areas. In some cases, only acontrol item for a newly executed application may be displayed at a usermanipulable location. Such display schemes may allow a user to conducteasy and convenient one-handed manipulation.

Additionally, since only an application execution screen of a newlyexecuted application or a control item is moved with other applicationsstill being executed, a user can continue to conveniently use theexisting applications.

While the present invention disclosure has been particularly shown anddescribed with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure shouldnot be defined as being limited to these embodiments, but should bedefined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a display panelconfigured to display respective application execution screens on afirst area and a second area of a display screen, the first and secondareas being distinct from each other; and a control circuit configuredto: display a second application execution screen on the first area andto display a third application execution screen on the second area whenan event for executing a third application is detected while a firstapplication execution screen is displayed on the first area and thesecond application execution screen is displayed on the second area,display the first application execution screen on the first area and todisplay the second application execution screen on the second area whenexecution of the third application is terminated, determine an attributeof the third application when the third application is executed inresponse to the event, display the second application execution screenon the first area and to display the third application execution screenon the second area when the attribute of the third application is set todisplay the third application execution screen on the second area, andtransparently display a portion of at least one item for controlling thethird application execution screen overlapping onto the secondapplication execution screen displayed in the second area when theattribute of the third application is set to display the at least oneitem on the second area, wherein the portion of the at least one itemfor controlling the third application execution screen is transparentlydisplayed overlapping onto the second application execution screen whilethe third application execution screen is simultaneously being displayedin the first area in place of the first application execution screen. 2.The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first area is located atan upper part of the screen, and the second area is located at a lowerpart of the screen.
 3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein thecontrol circuit is further configured to display the third applicationexecution screen on the first area when the attribute of the thirdapplication is set to display the at least one item for controlling thethird application execution screen on the second area.
 4. The electronicdevice of claim 3, wherein the control circuit is further configured toremove the at least one item from the second area and display the firstapplication execution screen on the first area when the execution of thethird application is terminated.
 5. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the control circuit is further configured to display one of aspecific application selected by a user, a predefined defaultapplication, a recently executed application, and a frequently executedapplication in the form of at least one of a widget, a shortcut, and anicon on the first application execution screen.
 6. The electronic deviceof claim 1, wherein the attribute of the third application is one ofinformation which is set to display the third application executionscreen on the second area, and information which is set to display theat least one item for controlling the third application execution screenon the second area, and wherein the control circuit is furtherconfigured to set the attribute of the third application in response toa user input.
 7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond areas are divided logically or physically within the screen. 8.The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the event for executing thethird application is one of a call reception, a music playback, a cameraactivation, a notification reception, and a message reception.
 9. Amethod for controlling a screen display in an electronic device, themethod comprising: displaying first and second application executionscreens on first and second areas of a screen, respectively, wherein thefirst and second areas are distinct from each other; detecting an eventfor executing a third application; displaying the second applicationexecution screen on the first area and displaying a third applicationexecution screen on the second area in response to the detected event;displaying the first application execution screen on the first area anddisplaying the second application execution screen on the second areawhen execution of the third application is terminated; determining anattribute of the third application when the third application isexecuted in response to the event; displaying the second applicationexecution screen on the first area and displaying the third applicationexecution screen on the second area when the attribute of the thirdapplication is set to display the third application execution screen onthe second area; and transparently displaying a portion of at least oneitem for controlling the third application execution screen overlappingonto the second application execution screen displayed in the secondarea when the attribute of the third application is set to display theat least one item on the second area, wherein the portion of the atleast one item for controlling the third application execution screen istransparently displayed overlapping onto the second applicationexecution screen while the third application execution screen issimultaneously being displayed in the first area in place of the firstapplication execution screen.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thefirst area is located at an upper part of the screen, and the secondarea is located at a lower part of the screen.
 11. The method of claim9, further comprising: displaying the third application execution screenon the first area when the attribute of the third application is set todisplay the at least one item on the second area.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising: removing the at least one item from thesecond area and displaying the first application execution screen on thefirst area when the execution of the third application is terminated.13. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying the first applicationexecution screen on the first area includes displaying one of a specificapplication selected by a user, a predefined default application, arecently executed application, and a frequently executed application inthe form of at least one of a widget, a shortcut, and an icon on thefirst application execution screen.
 14. The method of claim 9, whereinthe first and second application execution screens are displayed at thesame layer of the screen.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein theattribute of the third application is one of information which is set todisplay the third application execution screen on the second area, andinformation which is set to display the at least one item forcontrolling the third application execution screen on the second area,and wherein the attribute of the third application is set in response toa user input.
 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the event for executingthe third application is one of a call reception, a music playback, acamera activation, a notification reception, and a message reception.